Jaitapur: 2,000 anti-nuclear activists arrested

The police on Wednesday foiled protestors’ attempt to reach near the 9,900-Mw Jaitapur nuclear project site in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Nearly 2,000 activists, who had taken out a protest march against the project, were arrested and shifted to a makeshift jail at one of the schools in the area.

Villagers adjacent to the project site reiterated their demand for the cancellation of the nuclear project citing safety and security risks. On Wednesday’s protest march was supported by the opposition Shiv Sena and Left parties.

According to police sources, prohibitory orders were already in place and they had denied any formal permission for on Wednesday's protest march. The district administration, in a bid to avoid any untoward incident, had taken adequate measures, including deployment of personnel from the district police, state reserve police force and rapid action force. The police had served notices to villagers and leaders of various parties, and had taken measures to avoid protest in the adjoining Arabian sea.

On the lines of agitation launched by villagers against Kudankulam nuclear project in Tamil Nadu.